Puzzle.



PATENTED FEB. 12, 1907. W. J; BYGRAPT.

PUZZLE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 1, 190a.

I INVENTOH 7127 ZZ'azn ffig/traffi W/TNESSES By ATTORNEYS v WILLIAMJOSEPH BYCRAFT, OF ASHTABULA, OHIO.

PUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1907.

Application filed May 1, 1906. Serial No. 314,617.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. BYORAFT, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Ashtabula, in the county of Ashtabula and State ofOhio, have invented a new and Imroved Puzzle, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to puzzles or games for amusement purposes, andis especially useful in connection with entertainment devices forchildren.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and durable puzzle orgame which is of sufficient difficulty of performance to necessitatesome little skill and practice, which can be used as a puzzle by anindividual or as a game by two or more, and which is easy andinexpensive to manufacture.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of partsdescribed herein after and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalcrosssection on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end elevation, andFig. 4 is a similar elevation of the other extremity of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 is a tube of glass or othertransparent material. The ends of this tube are closed or stoppered bymeans of plugs 2 of such form that they are adapted to be used ashandles, not unlike those of arolling-pin. These plugs are of someelastic material, such as rubber, and have bosses 3 projecting inwardlyinto the tube 1 for a purpose set forth hereinafter. \Vithin the tube isa ball 4, of wood or other suitable material, which is of a diameterslightly less than that of the tube and which consequently can rollfreely in the latter. The ball 4 is provided with a recess 5 and a bore6. This bore 6 is adapted to contain a movable body 7, preferably asmall quantity of quicksilver, and is provided with stoppers 8 in theends thereof to retain this movable body in the bore. The object of thisarrangement is to make the rolling movement of the ball 4, under theinfluence of gravity when the tube is tilted, as erratic as possible.The tube 1 also contains a second smaller ball or pea 9, which is ofsuch a size that it will easily fit into the recess 5 of the ball 4 andwhich is of metal or some material heavier than that forming the ball 4,thus giving it greater mobility, due to its increased momentum. Theplugs 2 closing the end of the tube 1 are of different colors to enablethe operator to distinguish the ends of the puzzle one from the other,and the object of the device is to pass the large ball 4 from one sideof the small pea 9 to the other. As the diameter of the ball 4approximates that of the inner diameter of the tube, the only manner inwhich this can be accomplished is to roll the large ball 4 over thesmall one 9, so that the latter enters the recess 5, and thus permitsthe larger ball to pass over it. I

The object of the bosses 3 is to project beyond the small ball 9 whenthe latter rests against the plug 2, and thus prevents the operator frompassing the ball 4 over the pea 9 while the latter is in this position.As the plugs 2 are of an elastic material, they form cushions againstthe impact of the balls.

It will be understood that the device may be used as a puzzle by anindividual, or, if desired, to use it as a game between two or morecontestants. Time limits may be set within which each player is toaccomplish the solution, or the player requiring the long est time to dothis may be considered the loser.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. A device of the class described, comprising atubular body, a ball adapted to roll in said tubular body and having arecess, a pea within said tubular body adapted to enter said recess topermit said ball to pass therebeyond, and means for distinguishing theends of said tubular body one from the other.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a tubular body, plugs forthe ends thereof forming handles, means for distinguishing the ends ofsaid tubular body, a ball adapted to roll in said tubular body andhaving a recess, and a pea within said tubular body adapted to entersaid recess to permit said ball to roll over said pea.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a transparent tubularbody, plugs for the ends thereof forming handles, means fordistinguishing the ends of said body, a ball free to roll in saidtubular body and provided with a recess, said ball having means formaking the movement thereof erratic, and a second ball in said tubularbody adapted to enter said recess to'permit said first ball to roll overand pass beyond said second ball.

4. A device of the character described, comprising a transparent tubularbody, plugs for the ends thereof, said plugs being of different colorsto distinguish the ends of the device one from the other, a ball free toroll Within said tubular body and provided With a recess, said ballhaving a chamber With a movable mass therein, a pea Within said tubularbody adapted to enter said recess, and means for cushioning the impactof said ball against said plugs.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a transparent tubularbody, a ball free to roll Within said tubular body, and provided With arecess, said ball having a bore having a movable mass therein andstoppers for the ends of said bore, a pea in said tubular body adaptedto enter said recess to permit said ball to roll over said pea, andplugs MoiLelastic material for the ends of said tubular body presentingcushions against the impact of said ball and said pea and forminghandles, said plugs having inWardly-proj ecting bosses adapted toproject beyond said pea When the latter rests against a plug.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM JOSEPH BYORAFT.

Witnesses:

JAMEs CARROLL, Mrs. G. MAsKELToN.

